President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[S2M]

Oh and add to that, here at work yesterday one of the area's Medicaid reps came in to tell us the changes they are making to supposedly "crack down" on Medicaid abuse (yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it ) since this year alone there has been an 80% increase in people signing up for Medicaid here. Of which she said, as I've always seen for the last 16 years, a GOOD amount of whom do not TRULY NEED it. They just "need" their brand new cars, iphones, and designer purses more, and the government "owes" them Medicaid because of that.

Mel, this is something that really gets me. Liberals call conservative selfish, only caring about themselves, the "rich" not wanting to help the poor, etc. Speaking solely for myself, I would do almost anything I could to help those truly in need, but they aren't really the ones benefitting by the government because there are so many people abusing the system. It's the same with the unemployment benefits - I know there are people who are really trying to get back to work - but there are also those that are gonna suck every last dime outta the system before they have to find a job.

I'm not surprised by the Medicaid rep's comment, and I'm sure you're not either. It makes me sick.

Nope I wasn't surprised at all, none of us were, and that's sad!

Can it, PUBBIE!!!!

[Melissa]

Can it, PUBBIE!!!!

Shut up, LIBBIE

[RedWingFan]

Can it, PUBBIE!!!!

Shut up, LIBBIE

It's Libtard. Get it right!!!

[Melissa]

Can it, PUBBIE!!!!

Shut up, LIBBIE

It's Libtard. Get it right!!!

Oh! Sorry!

[The_Noble_Cause]

By the way remember how the "sensationalist" media used to always count up the total casualties on the air? What happened to that?

Easy. The wars became old news. Casualties no longer made headlines even while Bush finished his final year(s). If the media is so rabidily liberal, they are doing a pretty piss poor job of propping up their chosen boy.

[Monker]

Again, this is a farce. Compare the market where it was on the first day of the Obama administration to where it is today. It is UP a huge percentage. There may be small dips for some stupid words that somebody says or something stupid that somebody does - but those type of things do NOT affect the long term. Anybody who makes the claim you just did below is doing nothing but partaking in partisan politics.

....and those five or six people you are talking about missed out on making a LOT of money. Idiots.

I love it... the guys with the money are firing back for a change...I told you guys before the Obama election that the big boys with money were taking their money and going home..ie..cashing in..hence the market going down....no confidence in what THE Won was bringing to the table..

[Monker]

Again, this is a farce. Compare the market where it was on the first day of the Obama administration to where it is today. It is UP a huge percentage. There may be small dips for some stupid words that somebody says or something stupid that somebody does - but those type of things do NOT affect the long term. Anybody who makes the claim you just did below is doing nothing but partaking in partisan politics.

....and those five or six people you are talking about missed out on making a LOT of money. Idiots.

I love it... the guys with the money are firing back for a change...I told you guys before the Obama election that the big boys with money were taking their money and going home..ie..cashing in..hence the market going down....no confidence in what THE Won was bringing to the table..

No! It's not up huge. Huge might be back to 12700 or where some people began, just to level the playing field. How many invested in the run up to 14,000 and are still at 11,000?

Are you kidding me? It was NOT at 12700 when Obama took office. Are you so stupid that you think the market crashed under Obama and not W? YOUR stated theory above is that people with money would "take their money and go home" because Obama was elected. You were, and are, WRONG. The people with money, and brains, don't give a shit who is in office. They care if the 'real' people are consuming and buying, and that business is actually doing business and making money. THAT IS HAPPENING much more now then when dumb-ass W left office. Get over it - that is a fact. All the rest of this is trivial bullshit that Republicans are politicizing for their own purposes. The bottom line is : the recession is over - and has been over for a VERY long time. Obama hasn't done much to help the economy....but it is cycling back up on its own...despite how much you and the rest of conservatives/Republicans don't want it to.

If you invested aggressively while the market was over heated in the Bush years, then you are stupid. If you did not invest aggressively after the crash, then you are stupid. People like you who think you should buy high and sell low just cuz of who is in the white house are completely ignorant of the real world.

And, when Obama took office, the dow was around 8000. Saying a %30 move from 8000 to 11000 is NOT HUGE is completely ignorant. Yeah, I'm sure your < %1 interest in your savings account did so much better. You may as well have had it in your mattress...and maybe you do since a Democrat was elected. Idiot.

[donnaplease]

I'm curious what you guys think about the GroundZeroMosque financier who has defaulted on some of his recent loans, calling it 'smart business' not to pay his creditors. Don't remember his exact comments, but it reminded me of the movie "Goodfellas" when Ray Liotta's character explained how the mob did their business - in one door and out the next but never paying creditors for goods received.

Any thoughts?

[Rick]

Monker, I hate to break it to you, but the market going from 14,000 to 8,000 means that there was a whole lot of selling going on out there. Some buying has returned depending upon the news of the day, and a lot of buying has been at targeted stocks not the broader range.

On September 11th 2008 some $500 Billion was withdrawn from the money markets in a few hours period causing the FED to close the window. Now, don't tell me that some big boys were not taking their gains and cashing in, they absoutley did and I know of a couple. Then when the Gov made bank deposits guaranteed up to $250,000 instead of the previous $100,000 guarantee a lot of folks took the cap gains tax hit at the KNOWN Bush rate and a ton of 5 year $200,000 CDs were bought and laddered. Now, I firmly believe that most of this happend because of Joe the Plumber getting The Won to admit..."We just want to spread the wealth around a little." Laugh if you want, I don't care. Money that was in "PLAY" suddenly wasn't. In fact, some got locked up in 3/4/5 year CDs and can't be put into play right yet.

Business are said to be sitting on some 3 Trillion dollars in cash right now and not using it hire or expand because they don't know what the tax future holds. That is certainly big boy money my friend.

Now, word is coming out that Obama has caved and done a tax deal with the Pubbies this afternoon, at first glance it seems like that good shellacking he got on Nov 2nd has left it's mark. We'll see.

Everyone's been wondering what happened to Madsplash.

[Saint John]

The DOW was at 8,000 when Obama took office, FF.

[Monker]

The DOW was at 8,000 when Obama took office, FF.

Yeah, and all of those people who cashed in cuz Obama was elected caused the market to go up %30. What a partisan idiot.

[Rick]

Monker, I hate to break it to you, but the market going from 14,000 to 8,000 means that there was a whole lot of selling going on out there. Some buying has returned depending upon the news of the day, and a lot of buying has been at targeted stocks not the broader range.

On September 11th 2008 some $500 Billion was withdrawn from the money markets in a few hours period causing the FED to close the window. Now, don't tell me that some big boys were not taking their gains and cashing in, they absoutley did and I know of a couple. Then when the Gov made bank deposits guaranteed up to $250,000 instead of the previous $100,000 guarantee a lot of folks took the cap gains tax hit at the KNOWN Bush rate and a ton of 5 year $200,000 CDs were bought and laddered. Now, I firmly believe that most of this happend because of Joe the Plumber getting The Won to admit..."We just want to spread the wealth around a little." Laugh if you want, I don't care. Money that was in "PLAY" suddenly wasn't. In fact, some got locked up in 3/4/5 year CDs and can't be put into play right yet.

Business are said to be sitting on some 3 Trillion dollars in cash right now and not using it hire or expand because they don't know what the tax future holds. That is certainly big boy money my friend.

Now, word is coming out that Obama has caved and done a tax deal with the Pubbies this afternoon, at first glance it seems like that good shellacking he got on Nov 2nd has left it's mark. We'll see.

Everyone's been wondering what happened to Madsplash.

Not sure what that means but..oh well

2:10 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_atOvrT ... re=related

or listen to it all for some insight.

He (Madsplash) posted on here for a while that SP was coming out with a new album, and his response to everyone's disbelief was "We'll see". It became his mantra.

[Monker]

The DOW was at 8,000 when Obama took office, FF.

Yeah, and all of those people who cashed in cuz Obama was elected caused the market to go up %30. What a partisan idiot.

The market will not be "UP" until the DOW hits 14,094. Until then we're just coming back, recovering, having a recession, blah blah blah. Call me then.

Idiot.

Dow when W was elected : 10,794.

On 11-20-2008, Dow was at 7,552.29, still under Bush.

When Obama was elected, down was just below 8000.

Dois is at 11,359.16 today.

The market peaked and CRASHED under W.
The market his is's lowest low under W,.
The market started to rise AFTER the election and BEFORE Obama was elected.
The market has continued to improve the ENTIRE time Obama has been in office.

This belief of a sell-off because of Obama being elected is a FARCE a LIE. It didn't happen. The FACT is the exact opposite is what has happened.

[donnaplease]

No comments on BO's press conference from yesterday???

OK, I'll start. I think he did very well. He told us that he was putting country before politics, and I appreciate that. I know it was hard for him to stand up so strongly against the dems/libs, but he basically told them that as president, he has to be able to compromise in order to get things done. No more of this "ram it through" crap. Hopefully it is a sign of good things to come for our country.

[The_Noble_Cause]

OK, I'll start. I think he did very well. He told us that he was putting country before politics, and I appreciate that.

Continuing Bush tax cuts that are not offset with any spending cuts is PURE politics, and will likely hurt the country's financial standing worse than any new entitlement. You can't talk about the deficit while simultaneously starving the treasury. Obama and the GOP are frauds.

No more of this "ram it through" crap.

The very tax cuts Obama has now caved on, were initially "rammed through" via reconcilliation in 2000. Where was the outrage? Nothing in this administraion has been rammed through. The opposition party refuses to go along with Obama on even their own ideas.

[Memorex]

OK, I'll start. I think he did very well. He told us that he was putting country before politics, and I appreciate that.

Continuing Bush tax cuts that are not offset with any spending cuts is PURE politics, and will likely hurt the country's financial standing worse than any new entitlement. You can't talk about the deficit while simultaneously starving the treasury. Obama and the GOP are frauds.

No more of this "ram it through" crap.

The very tax cuts Obama has now caved on, were initially "rammed through" via reconcilliation in 2000. Where was the outrage? Nothing in this administraion has been rammed through. The opposition party refuses to go along with Obama on even their own ideas.

It's funny how one side sees the other as obstructionists when they stand firm, but the see their guy as principled when he stands firm. Is the party of no just more principled? Is the ramming through of something just being principled? did the republicans hold unemployment benefits hostage for an extension of tax rates, or did Obama hold the tax rates hostage for better unemployment benefits? Funny, huh?

[The_Noble_Cause]

It's funny how one side sees the other as obstructionists when they stand firm, but the see their guy as principled when he stands firm. Is the party of no just more principled? Is the ramming through of something just being principled? did the republicans hold unemployment benefits hostage for an extension of tax rates, or did Obama hold the tax rates hostage for better unemployment benefits? Funny, huh?

This president has stood firm on nothing.

[donnaplease]

OK, I'll start. I think he did very well. He told us that he was putting country before politics, and I appreciate that.

Continuing Bush tax cuts that are not offset with any spending cuts is PURE politics, and will likely hurt the country's financial standing worse than any new entitlement. You can't talk about the deficit while simultaneously starving the treasury. Obama and the GOP are frauds.

No more of this "ram it through" crap.

The very tax cuts Obama has now caved on, were initially "rammed through" via reconcilliation in 2000. Where was the outrage? Nothing in this administraion has been rammed through. The opposition party refuses to go along with Obama on even their own ideas.

The fact that BO backed off his political stance to get the job done - with concessions from both sides is what I'm referring to. It may have been PURE politics, but he looked at the needs of the American people. If he had to cave on the taxes to get the unemployment benefits, then it's a win (or loss, depending on how you look at it) for both sides. But I understand what you're saying. Kinda burning the candle at both ends.

I can't speak to what happened in 2000 - didn't follow things back then. How can you say they refused to go along with BO - extending the tax cuts was their idea. Maybe I missed something. TNC, are you angry with BO for the way he talked to/about his democratic party cronies? I can understand where dems/libs would be livid.

[The_Noble_Cause]

The fact that BO backed off his political stance to get the job done - with concessions from both sides is what I'm referring to. It may have been PURE politics, but he looked at the needs of the American people.

Tax cuts are not needed right now. People need jobs.

How can you say they refused to go along with BO - extending the tax cuts was their idea.

The GOP actually holds power once again. So they are forced to play ball. Before the midterms, it was all opposition, all the time.

TNC, are you angry with BO for the way he talked to/about his democratic party cronies? I can understand where dems/libs would be livid.

No, because anyone who has been paying attention knows that O is barely a liberal.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Nice facts, FF. On nearly every issue, Obama has governed to the right of Republicans like Nixon and Ike. Where's the raging pinko liberalism? Passing Mitt Romney's healthcare plan? Expanding military intervention abroad? His most recent tax compromise only compounds this fact. Dude doesn't even have the balls to tax the rich at modest Clinton levels.

[Rockindeano]

OK, I'll start. I think he did very well. He told us that he was putting country before politics, and I appreciate that.

Continuing Bush tax cuts that are not offset with any spending cuts is PURE politics, and will likely hurt the country's financial standing worse than any new entitlement. You can't talk about the deficit while simultaneously starving the treasury. Obama and the GOP are frauds.

No more of this "ram it through" crap.

The very tax cuts Obama has now caved on, were initially "rammed through" via reconcilliation in 2000. Where was the outrage? Nothing in this administraion has been rammed through. The opposition party refuses to go along with Obama on even their own ideas.

The fact that BO backed off his political stance to get the job done - with concessions from both sides is what I'm referring to. It may have been PURE politics, but he looked at the needs of the American people. If he had to cave on the taxes to get the unemployment benefits, then it's a win (or loss, depending on how you look at it) for both sides. But I understand what you're saying. Kinda burning the candle at both ends.

I can't speak to what happened in 2000 - didn't follow things back then. How can you say they refused to go along with BO - extending the tax cuts was their idea. Maybe I missed something. TNC, are you angry with BO for the way he talked to/about his democratic party cronies? I can understand where dems/libs would be livid.

TNC is correct here. Obama IS a fraud, right there with the GOP. Obama basically traded Bush tax cuts for more unemployment...a lose lose situation. If Obama stands firm, and says no to continued tax cuts for the wealthiest in the nation, then people out of work(largely the fault of the past president's economic policy), lose their homes, cars and go hungry. So he makes the deal.. the Bush tax cuts are continued(stupidly I might add), and unemployment benefits continue. So how much are these Bush tax cuts going to cost the economy? I forget, 700 Billion? is that right? Whatever....at least the unemployment benefits given out will be used and given back to the economy. For every dollar issued for benefits, 1.60 comes back into the economy....versus every dollar of taxation "cut" for the rich, produces ZERO payback to the economy. The rich don't create jobs. That has been tried and failed miserably under Reagan. When will the republicans ever learn? it doesn't matter anyway, at least not to me. I have become apathetic to the whole thing now. Obama is no better than a republican. He has caved, to what was and is important...and now he is nothing but a lame duck president....something the republicans here will all stand up and cheer about. Our country sucks.

[Rockindeano]

Nice facts, FF. On nearly every issue, Obama has governed to the right of Republicans like Nixon and Ike. Where's the raging pinko liberalism? Passing Mitt Romney's healthcare plan? Expanding military intervention abroad? His most recent tax compromise only compounds this fact. Dude doesn't even have the balls to tax the rich at modest Clinton levels.

Obama has NO balls. The republicans ought to thank their lucky stars He won and not Hillary. Things would be a lot different now.

[Saint John]

High marginal tax rates discourage work effort, saving, and investment, and promote tax avoidance and tax evasion. A reduction in high marginal tax rates would boost long term economic growth, and reduce the attractiveness of tax shelters and other forms of tax avoidance. The economic benefits of ERTA were summarized by President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers in 1994: "It is undeniable that the sharp reduction in taxes in the early 1980s was a strong impetus to economic growth."

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

. For every dollar issued for benefits, 1.60 comes back into the economy....versus every dollar of taxation "cut" for the rich, produces ZERO payback to the economy. .

Good grief, a few days ago the dollar sixty theory was mentioned by a democratic talking head and every Tom Dick and Harry is now repeating it ad nauseuam without even thinking about it or asking for evidence of this . There isn't any dollar sixy brought back into the economy, I dont care if you saw it on "Meet the Press"

If the government issues a dollar of benefits, that dollar needs to be administered by a bueracracy , that dollar spending needs to be financed (and with the govt being an easy customer for fiance they have less impetus/need for them to provide finance to private customers). Then you have the fact that whilst many benefit recipients are needy and honorable , there is finite percentage that are not, use the benefit as an excuse not to work. That missing paycheck, lack of production is something that does not get taxed, is money that is not spent in the economy. Add all that up, that buck sixty is gone. No buck sixty- you certainly can't prove that.

What is more provable is the fact that if you have a person who runs a small business, employs a few people and classifies him self with the IRS as an S-Corp and his business is worth more than 250,000 - that business is going to get caned by a potental tax increase amd will make people unemployed

[Saint John]

For decade after decade the working people have taken care of the lazy. I think anyone getting an unemployment check, and especially welfare, should have to report and do some sort of work. Clean up garbage in cities and on the sides of the road, shovel snow, remove graffiti and similar sorts of jobs. This country should be fucking spotless. No one should get money for free. I have never collected any sort of unemployment or welfare in my life and I (hopefully) never will. I would work at McDonalds first. Hell, within 2 or 3 years (or less) I'm quite sure I'd be in some sort of management. Fantastic corporation.

[S2M]

For decade after decade the working people have taken care of the lazy. I think anyone getting an unemployment check, and especially welfare, should have to report and do some sort of work. Clean up garbage in cities and on the sides of the road, shovel snow, remove graffiti and similar sorts of jobs. This country should be fucking spotless. No one should get money for free. I have never collected any sort of unemployment or welfare in my life and I (hopefully) never will. I would work at McDonalds first. Hell, within 2 or 3 years (or less) I'm quite sure I'd be in some sort of management. :) Fantastic corporation.

Would that be President of the Chicago Chapter of the SP's Voice is not Toast fanclub?

[The_Noble_Cause]

High marginal tax rates discourage work effort, saving, and investment, and promote tax avoidance and tax evasion. A reduction in high marginal tax rates would boost long term economic growth, and reduce the attractiveness of tax shelters and other forms of tax avoidance. The economic benefits of ERTA were summarized by President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers in 1994: "It is undeniable that the sharp reduction in taxes in the early 1980s was a strong impetus to economic growth."

Marginal tax rates are already at historic lows. During the post-WW2 period, when marginal tax rates were their highest, the economy boomed.

[The_Noble_Cause]

For decade after decade the working people have taken care of the lazy. I think anyone getting an unemployment check, and especially welfare, should have to report and do some sort of work. Clean up garbage in cities and on the sides of the road, shovel snow, remove graffiti and similar sorts of jobs. This country should be fucking spotless. No one should get money for free. I have never collected any sort of unemployment or welfare in my life and I (hopefully) never will. I would work at McDonalds first. Hell, within 2 or 3 years (or less) I'm quite sure I'd be in some sort of management. Fantastic corporation.

Alot of assuming going on in this post. I thought Clinton made sure recipients have to work to recieve welfare bennies.

[fredinator]

TNC, any opinion (lol) on Donald Trump running for president?

[Rockindeano]

For decade after decade the working people have taken care of the lazy. I think anyone getting an unemployment check, and especially welfare, should have to report and do some sort of work. Clean up garbage in cities and on the sides of the road, shovel snow, remove graffiti and similar sorts of jobs. This country should be fucking spotless. No one should get money for free. I have never collected any sort of unemployment or welfare in my life and I (hopefully) never will. I would work at McDonalds first. Hell, within 2 or 3 years (or less) I'm quite sure I'd be in some sort of management. Fantastic corporation.

Alot of assuming going on in this post. I thought Clinton made sure recipients have to work to recieve welfare bennies.

It's a good idea really. I believe President Clinton referred to it as Americorps. Welfare recipients should push a broom or pick up trash. This nation should look like Disneyland, spotless.